Curated OER
Civil War Literature Circle
Historical fiction can be a valuable asset when learning about the past. Integrate several novels written about the Civil War into your social studies unit, with groups of four working collaboratively to comprehend the novel from...
Curated OER
Introducing Literature Circle Roles to Students
Students read a narrative selection and select a literature circle role. In this reading comprehension instructional activity, students work in groups to identify vocabulary, make text connections, or other reading comprehension...
Novelinks
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Picture Book Strategy
Picture books aren't just for primary learners. Your scholars compare and contrast literary themes between the novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, and the children's book, The Dream Tree by Winfried Wolf through...
Curated OER
Literature Circles
Have you always wanted to try Literature Circles in your ELD class, but couldn't find a good way to start? This instructional activity is made for you, your middle-school readers and ideally, your SMARTboard (though the instructional...
Curated OER
Shared Reading Book Trailer Creation
Scholars summarize sections of a book and compile them to create a book trailer. They are assigned sections of a book to read and summarize before recording as short video segments. The segments are put together in order to create a book...
Facing History and Ourselves
Literature Circles: Preparing for Literature Circles through a Fishbowl Discussion
Students examine the attributes of productive conversations. For this fishbowl discussion lesson, students observe a modeled discussion of a literature circle. Students watch a discussion of "The Bear That Wasn't" and note how...
Curated OER
English Literature Circle Discussion
Students participate in literary circles to analyze characters, critique writing, discuss events, and story elements. In this literary circles lesson, students take responsibility for their learning as a member of the group. Students...
Curated OER
Literature Circles
Middle schoolers complete the reading of an age appropriate piece of literature. They think critically about their reading and discuss it with a group of peers. Students make connections among their reading, their own lives, and the...
Curated OER
What is Manga?
Students research graphic novels. In this manga lesson plan, students work in small groups as the read graphic novels in literature circle format.
Curated OER
Day Ten Lesson- The Whale Rider
Readers respond to Chapters 17 and 18 of Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera. Working in literature groups, they identify the climactic elements in the chapters, discussing the text and making inferences based on their reading.
EngageNY
Reading Shakespeare: Understanding Shakespeare’s Language
Pupils participate in a drama circle to read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream aloud. They work with partners to discuss Shakespeare's use of language and analyze how specific lines of dialogue within the play help propel the...
Curated OER
Literature Circles: The Cay and Timothy of the Cay
Students read and discuss The Cay or Timothy of the Cay with other students. They complete Literature Circles role sheets. Students map the journeys of Timothy and Phillip. They put the events of the stories on a time line.
Curated OER
Honey Bee Language Arts And Literature
Young scholars see how nature and honey bees are presented in literature. They find and read poetry that include references to bees. Have them write their own poetry or Haiku.
Curated OER
Catherine, Called Birdy: December and January
Students work in literary circles to discuss Catherine, Called Birdy. In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson plan, students brainstorm ideas for discussion and observe as the teacher models a good discussion group. Students record...
Curated OER
Narrative Pantomime: The Great Kapok Tree
Students pantomime the story of The Great Kapok Tree for younger students. In this The Great Kapok Tree lesson, students warm up with a game before volunteering for parts in the story. Students practice acting out the story in...
Curated OER
English Novel: Fallen Angels
Students identify a character in Fallen Angels and discuss the changes that occur in that character throughout the Vietnam war. For this Fallen Angels lesson, students participate in literary circles in which each student has a...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Development
Learners utilize various vocabulary strategies. They use vocabulary logs to record strategies they have been taught, such as the Frayer Model (definition, picture, examples, non-examples), writing their own definitions, and using...